1. Effect of feeding alfalfa hay on growing pig performance
- Author
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Ferchaud, Stephane, Alibert, Laurent, Gaudre, Didier, Montagne, Lucile, Renaudeau, David, ROINSARD, Antoine, Guiraud, Franck, Terrasson, Tony, Génétique, Expérimentation et Système Innovants (GenESI), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Institut du Porc, Physiologie, Environnement et Génétique pour l'Animal et les Systèmes d'Elevage [Rennes] (PEGASE), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-AGROCAMPUS OUEST, and Institut Technique de l'Agriculture Biologique (ITAB)
- Subjects
alimentation ,[SDV.BA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Animal biology ,[SDV.BA.ZV]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Animal biology/Vertebrate Zoology ,luzerne ,croissance ,porc - Abstract
Improvingprotein autonomy is amajor challenge in organic pig production. According to organic specifications, pigs should have access to fodder (roughage,fresh, dried) orsilage.The objective of thisstudy was to evaluate consequences of feeding alfalfa hayon growth and carcass performances. A total of 120 pigs were used in two consecutive trialsof 60 pigs. Pigs were group-housed (sixpigs/pen). Fivetreatments were compared. The control group (T) and the R0 LEgroup were fed ad libitumwith a commercial grower feed. The R10 LE, R15 LEand R22 LEgroups were restrictively fed at 10%, 15%and 22% of ad libitum, respectively,compared to the T and R0 LEgroups. Alfalfa haywas providedad libitumto the R0 LE, R10 LE, R15 LEand R22 LEgroups. Pig growth in the T and R10 LEgroupsdidnot differ significantly (949and 937 g/d, respectively),but the average daily gain of those in the R15 LEand R22 LEgroups was significantly lower(855 and 804 g/d,respectively, P
- Published
- 2019